European Helmet Law Positions
1995
From CSC: The Newsletter of the French Consumer Safety
Commission
Extract from the Official Journals of the European Union
Translation: BHSI. Ici le document d'origine en Francais.
Helmets for Cyclists
Considering that the number of cyclists with head injuries in the European Union
is more than 600,000 per year, requiring an expenditure of 1 billion ECU's,
does the European Commission expect to evaluate the advantage of mandatory
helmet laws for bicyclists?
Here is the response of Mr. Kinnock of the European Commission:
The European Commission believes that wearing a bicycle helmet reduces the risk
of head injury in case of an accident, but bear in mind that helmet wearing is
not yet obligatory in any of the member States.
The Commission is in regular contact with cyclist associations, notably the
European Federation of Cyclists. It is aware that there is no consensus on the
question of mandatory bicycle helmets. However, it provided financial support
for several national programs designed to promote and develop the wearing of
safety helmets by bicyclists in 1993 and 1994 (conferences in Paris and Stockholm
and comparative tests of child safety helmets in Germany).
Regarding accident statistics, the Commission has encouraged the creation of
a European database on accidents which will provide the required information.
The system is currently in test phase and will be operational beginning in 1996.
In addition, bicycle safety helmets are included in the directive 89/686/CEE of
December 21, 1989 on equipment for individual protection (EPI). All elements of
this directive have been in force since July 1, 1995. Henceforth, all safety
helmets put on the market or used shall conform to this directive and therefore
carry European Community markings.
A harmonization standard for this product is under preparation in the European
Standards Committee (CEN).
JOCE Number C103/39 DU 24/4/95
This page was last revised on: March 31, 2005.
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